News

Marion, IL – SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT AGENCIES ARE URGING LEGISLATORS TO RESTORE THE CUTS MADE TO THEIR BUDGETS.

DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON AT ILLINOIS CENTRE MALL, FRANKLIN-WILLIAMSON HUMAN SERVICES C-E-O JOHN MARKLEY SAID THE GOVERNOR'S CUTS WOULD REDUCE THE BUDGET FOR HIS ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS BY ALMOST HALF AND DEVASTATE HIS PREVENTION PROGRAMS BY 85%.

Chicago, IL – THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE IS CUTTING BACK ON ITS DELIVERIES TO SOUTHERN ILLINOIS...

MANY SUBSCRIBERS OUTSIDE OF THE CHICAGOLAND AREA WILL NO LONGER RECEIVE A PRINT VERSION OF THE STATE'S LARGEST PAPER. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRIBUNE SAYS SUBSCRIBERS WILL STILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A NEARLY IDENTICAL ELECTRONIC VERSION THROUGH THEIR COMPUTER. MAIL SERVICE IS ALSO AVAILABLE. BUT THE DAYS OF PICKING ONE UP AT THE NEWSSTAND MIGHT BE AT AN END.

THE COLLINSVILLE LAWMAKER HAS $1.5 MILLION IN HIS RE-ELECTION FUND AS OF JULY FIRST, ACCORDING TO HIS LATEST FEDERAL DISCLOSURE REPORT. HE HAD ABOUT $198,000 IN CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE YEAR'S SECOND QUARTER AND SPENT ABOUT $86,000 ON OPERATIONS.

THE REPORT FOR HIS DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER DANIEL DAVIS OF CHATHAM IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. IN APRIL, DAVIS' FUND HAD JUST UNDER $1,400 AND DEBTS OF NEARLY $4,400.

Chicago, IL – The Green Party convention this week in Chicago is bring together party faithful from across the country, many of whom are running for congressional and municipal seats.

Farheen (far-HEEN) Hakeem (ha-KEEM) hopes to become the first green candidate elected to the Minnesota legislature. She says being around other like-minded people at the convention has inspired her to continue to run no matter how big the obstacle is.

Carbondale, IL – AREA SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES ARE CALLING ON LAWMAKERS TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET CUTS...

GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH VETOED MORE THAN 55-MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE FUNDED SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT SYSTEM. THOSE DOLLARS ARE MATCHED ONE FOR ONE BY A FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT WHICH MEANS THE STATE STANDS TO LOSE MORE THAN 100-MILLION DOLLARS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

Springfield, IL – A SOUTHERN ILLINOIS LAWMAKER IS DISAPPOINTED THE HOUSE ADJOURNED THURSDAY AFTER VOTING DOWN A KEY PART OF THE GAMING EXPANSION PLAN WHICH WOULD HAVE FUNDED MUCH OF THE CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE BOST OF MURPHYSBORO SAYS THE STATE NEEDS A CAPITAL BUDGET TO FUND IMPORTANT ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS AND OTHER IMPORTANT EFFORTS SUCH AS THE TRANSPORTATION EDUCATION CENTER AT SIU-CARBONDALE.

Springfield – THE ILLINOIS ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG DEPENDENCE ASSOCIATION SAYS THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET CUTS WILL TRANSLATE INTO A LOSS OF MORE THAN 100-MILLION DOLLARS FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN THE STATE...

Springfield, IL – LEADERS OFFICIALLY CUT THE RIBBON ON THE SIMMONS-COOPER CANCER INSTITUTE AT SIU'S MEDICAL SCHOOL IN SPRINGFIELD TODAY.

THE $21.5 MILLION FACILITY WILL HOUSE STATE-OF-THE-ART DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT EQUIPMENT, AND PROVIDES A MORE COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR PATIENTS. IT ALSO HOLDS RESEARCH FACILITIES, SO THAT RESEARCH, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT CAN ALL HAPPEN UNDER ONE ROOF.

Springfield, IL – Governor Rod Blagojevich has sliced nearly one and a half billion dollars from the state's budget....

The cuts range from health care programs to public transit systems to higher education. The governor says he was forced to wield the budget axe because the spending plan the general assembly approved was unbalanced.

THE BILL AUTHORIZES THE GOVERNOR TO CONTINUE PAYING CONTRACTORS ON $30 MILLION IN PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDER WAY. IT ALSO ADDED $25 MILLION FOR ``EMERGENCIES'' - INCLUDING THIS WEEK'S FAILURE OF THEAIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AT THE EXECUTIVE MANSION.

Springfield, IL – Illinois House lawmakers have defeated a plan to expand gambling as a way to pay for construction needs.

The package would drastically change the gambling landscape in Illinois, giving Chicago a casino and adding two more in the state. But as was expected the measure fell far short of passing, leaving the future of a so called capital program more uncertain than ever.

Springfield, IL – THE ILLINOIS STATE BAR ASSOCIATION HAS COME OUT FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY.

THE LAST ILLINOIS EXECUTION WAS IN 1999 AT THE TAMMS CORRECTIONAL CENTER. SINCE THEN, A MORATORIUM SUPPORTED BY TWO GOVERNORS HAS BEEN IN PLACE, BUT THE DEATH PENALTY IS STILL IN THE STATUTE BOOKS, AND CONVICTS ARE STILL SENT TO DEATH ROW.